The Cape Town Design Nerds developed and ran a mentorship programme for the Grade 7, 8, and 9 learners at Kompass Education, a progressive school in Cairo, Egypt, from March to June 2024. Designed to supplement the students’ fourth unit of learning, which centred on the theme of ‘Consequences’, the mentorship programme provided opportunities for learners to explore the effects of various taken-for-granted actions and decisions, develop their critical thinking skills, understand complex issues, and design innovative solutions to real-world challenges.

The programme consisted of six online sessions, during which CTDN mentors introduced the learners to design thinking, guided them through each stage of this problem-solving tool in small group discussions, and provided assistance, encouragement, and feedback as the learners developed and presented their final group projects at the end of the term. The students produced exceptional projects, including a mini Model United Nations (MUN) debate, a cooking show which drew attention to food insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and a podcast that highlighted youth climate change activism.

Both the Kompass Education teachers and learners alike embraced the mentorship programme and design thinking process enthusiastically. Their support and willingness to engage with new methodologies, practices, and partners to create enhanced learning experiences made this programme - the first of its kind for both CTDN and Kompass Education - possible.

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